QuinTessential

Based in Cape Town

A culturally diverse group of musicians that are committed to providing a high standard of music excellence, coupled with exceptional professionalism, class and distinction. The repertoire is a Mixed Masala of music for every occasion and audience. Styles range from medium tempo swing to lush ballads, and even as far as contemporary, fusion, popular, and afro-centric music from well-known local and international artists.

Tracey Appolis (Bandleader) – Piano (electric bass guitar and backing vocals)
Up-and-coming Cape Town-based pianist, Tracey Appolis studied Jazz and graduated from The University of Cape Town. She has performed at many venues around town performing with bands like Craig Kallis’ Monday’s @ 7, UCT Big Band, Anything Goes and Woman’s Work. She has also worked with prominent musicians such as Shannon Mowday, Celeste Williams and Abigail Petersen, amongst other, and has performed at festivals such as The Cape Town Jazzathon and The Cape Town Big Band Festival and The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival. She plays the electric bass guitar and is currently also playing with the all-female band Sistahood.

Frank Paco – Drums (backing vocals)
Renowned drummer, percussionist and vocalist, Frank Paco is originally from Mozambique. He studied jazz and graduated with distinction from The University of Cape Town. He is no stranger to the music industry. He has worked with well-known bands such as Sakhile, Loading Zone, Virtual Jazz Reality, Sheer Sound All Stars and great artists such as Jimmy Dludlu, Miriam Makeba, Brenda Fassie, Judith Sephuma, Hugh Masekela and Jonathan Butler to name a few. He is a founding member of the band Tucan Tucan, and with these band mentioned above, he has performed at big festivals such as The Cape Town Jazzathon, The Cape Town International Jazz Festival and The North Sea Jazz Festival. He is an experienced session musician, and has played on albums of artists such as Jimmy Dludlu, McCoy Mrubata, Sheer Sound All Stars, Musa Manzini and Gito Baloi, to name a few.

Shaun Johannes – Electric bass guitar (piano and backing vocals)
Phenomenal bassist, Shaun Johannes, has been making waves on Cape Town. He studied Jazz at The University of Cape Town and graduated with distinction. He is one of the most sought-after bass players and session musicians in town and has played on albums of artists such as Vicky Sampson, Moreira Chonguica, Amanda Tiffin, and Mark Fransman. He has also performed with artists such as Paul Hanmer, Carl Allen, Najee, Mc Coy Mrubata, Shannon Mowday and Gloria Bosman to name a few. He has performed various bands like UCT Big Band, Mike Campbell Big Band, Nightshift, The Muirhead Quartet, Mark Fransman’s Akoustik Knot and The Amanda Tiffin Trio and many more. He has performed at major festivals like The Cape Town Jazzathon, The Standard Bank National Youth Festival, The Cape Town International Jazz Festival and The Joy of Jazz Festival.

Byron Abrahams – Alto and soprano saxophone
Soulful saxophonist, Byron Abrahams is currently studying Jazz atThe University ofCape Town, and is in his final year.He has performed with bands like UCT Big Band, The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Band, Stellenbosch University Jazz Band and Blackcurrant. He has worked with artists such as Claire Philips, Camillo Lombard andWayne Bosch. He has performed at big festivals such as The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival, The Cape Town Jazzathon and The Cape Town International Jazz Festival. He has been featured on Albums of artists like Sammy Webber and Wesley Solomons.


Lee-Anne Fortuin – Lead vocals
Versatile singer, Lee-Anne Fortuin is currently studying jazz at The University of Cape Town, and is in her final year. She has sung with bands such as BMC, Intrigue, Leslie Klein-smith and Mother City Groove, Blackcurrant, UCT Big Band and the Artscape Youth Jazz Band. She has performed with artists such as Richard Ceasar, Melanie Scholtz, Camillo Lombard and Carmen Xclusive. She has performed at festivals such as The Cape Town International Jazz Festival, The Cape Town Jazzathon, The Artscape Jazz Festival and The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival.

REPERTOIRE LIST:

Jazz

All Blues
All God’s children got rhythm
All or nothing at all
All the things you are
Almost like being in love
Angel eyes
Autumn leaves
Beautiful love
Beyond the sea
Body and soul
But not for me
Bye bye blackbird
Confirmation
Cry me a river
Cupid
Days of wine and roses
Deed I do
Devil may care
Do nothing ‘til you hear from me
Dolphin dance
Don’t get around much anymore
Don’t take your love from me
East of the sun
Farmers market
Fever
Fly me to the moon
Footprints
For all we know
Four
Georgia
Have you met Miss Jones?
Honeysuckle rose
How high the moon
I’ll remember April
I’m gonna laugh you right out of my life
In a mellow tone
In a sentimental mood
It don’t mean a thing
I’ve got my love to keep me warm
I’ve got you under my skin
Joy spring
Let’s fall in love
L-O-V-E
Lullaby of Birdland
Mack the knife
Mercy, mercy, mercy
Misty
Moondance
My baby just cares for me
My funny valentine
My little boat
My romance
Nature boy
Never let me go
On green dolphin street
Orange coloured sky
Route 66
Skylark
Smoke gets in your eyes
Softly as in a morning sunrise
Stella by starlight
Stormy weather
Straighten up and fly right
Summertime
Take the” A” train
That’s all
There will never be another you
The way you look tonight
They can’t take that away from me
Twisted
You’d be so nice to come home to
You’re everything

Latin

A Felicidade
Agua de beber
A night in Tunisia
Besame mucho
Black Orpheus
Blue bossa
Brigas nunca mais
Chega de saudade
Corcovado
Day in the life of a fool (A)
Dindi
Desafinado
Double rainbow (chovendo na roseira)
E menina
Gentle rain
Girl from Ipanema
Mas que nada
Night and day
One note samba
Quando quando
So danco samba
St. Thomas
Summer samba (So nice)
Sway
The look of love
The shadow of your smile
Triste
Wave

POP

Affirmation
All I do
Ain’t no sunshine
Can we change the world
Caught up in the rapture
Close to you
Don’t know why
Everything
Faith
Feel like makin’ love
Feel so good
Fragile
Get here
Guilty
I say a little prayer for you
Isn’t she lovely
Just the two of us
Just the way you are
Kiss of life
Lately
Maputo
Mornin’
Morning dance
Mr Magic
Natural woman
Popsicle toes
Pretty woman
Smooth operator
Something stupid
Still a friend of mine
Streetlife
Sunday morning
Sunny
Sweetest taboo
Sweet love
That’s the way love goes
These are the days
This is love
Too late
We’re in this love together
Winelight
You are the sunshine of my life

Dance

All night long
Ain’t no stopping us now
Amazing
Believe
Brazilian love affair
Brown-eyed girl
Can’t get enough of your love
Celebration
Closer
Come with me now
Conga
Cut it loose
Dancing queen
Fallen
Florida room
Get down on it
Half a minute
Heaven knows
I can’t help it
If I can’t have you
In the stone
I will
I will survive
Last dance
Let’s get loud
Loves theme
Love will find a way
Missing
Mustang Sally
Never can say goodbye
Never too much
Nutbush city
Our love
Pieces of a dream
Please Philipe
Promises
Quando quando
Respect
Ronnie’s samba
Show me
Silly love songs
Simply the best
Smiling faces
Stop in the name of love
Strong enough
Stuck on you
Sudden samba
The love I lost
Too good to be true
Turn your love around
Twist and shout
Upside down
Waiting for tonight
Walking on sunshine
What you won’t do for love
Who’s the boss
Why you follow me
South African
A cry, a smile, a dance
Cape samba
Crossroads, crossroads, crossroads
Destiny
Harold’s bossa
Iya iyo
Magic
Manenberg
Pata pata
Taxi ride
Ten years free
Tsakwe (Royal Blue)
Weekend special